What a Miracle!: Yuko Kitchen and Milk Jar Cookies

I found a burrito that isn't exhausting to eat and doesn't make you feel like a blimp after. I never thought it was possible. My foodie adventures in Miracle Mile are below. 

Yuko Kitchen 

5484 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036

(323) 933-4020

http://www.yukokitchen.com

DTLA location coming soon

I loved YK's bright colors and lush greenery around the patio and outside. Bonus points for having heaters ready to go. It's so cute but it's a popular spot at lunch, so be prepared for it to get a little tight. 

In addition to Japanese inspired food, they also have boba beverages and frozen lemonades. I got the apple mint lemonade and it was so refreshing. It didn't have a syrupy taste at all, just crisp and lightly sweet. 

We started with their Spicy Salmon Nachos, which was perfectly portioned for 2 people to split as an appetizer. This was such a fun Japanese take on a Mexican dish with fried wontons instead of tortilla chips, fresh avocado, cherry tomatoes, cream cheese, daikon radish and what I believe was a hoison sauce to dip it in. 

Behold. This is the Bowl Lito. I couldn't seem to get a beauty shot, so this messy one will have to do. It's the same concept of a Mexican burrito, but it's wrapped with nori, packed with sushi rice, cucumbers, avocado, seaweed and lettuce. I chose to add spicy beef to it. It was so meaty and buttery but it has a refreshing taste to it, which I know sounds weird. It's a little tough to hold together but it's worth the mess. This is a must try if you're in the Miracle Mile area. 

Milk Jar Cookies

5466 Wilshire Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90036

(323) 634-9800

milkjarcookies.com

I'm a sucker for shabby chic and girlie stuff so Milk Jar Cookies' interior won my heart right off the bat. I wasn't able to sample all the cookies but I did get the seasonal cookie, which was Salted Butterscotch. It tasted "fresh out of Mom's oven" it was chewy without being doughy and the salt on top is such a modern twist on a classic cookie. I cannot wait to come back and be a cookie monster.  

Gottcha Cover-ed: Cliff's Edge in Silver Lake

It's been a long time since I've posted here and... I'm sorry. Life gets in the way and I'm finally allowing myself to get back into full blown foodie mode. 

I wanted to tell you all about this great event I went to that continues tomorrow, Sunday, 4/26/15, 11 AM - 3 PM. It's through an iPhone app called Cover, which you can download in the app store. 

At this event, if you download and pay for your bill with Cover, you get free Bottomless Mimosas, with a purchase of an entree (promocode is bestbrunchever). You can read more about Cover here: http://paywithcover.com. I'm really pumped on this app because they have events with great deals. It's kind of like Pay Pal but for food and with cool promos. 

I love that after you're set up, you can just leave. There's no waiting around for the bill, no worrying about splitting equally and no fumbling for cash. Great, cause I was in a rush to see a friend's at UCB and I made it just in time. 

Cliff's Edge 

• 3626 W Sunset Blvd
  Los Angeles, CA 90026
• cliffsedgecafe.com
• (323) 666-6116

My girlfriend Jacqueline and I went this morning. We were so impressed with the food and atmosphere. We sat on the patio and the outdoor dining has a chic, somewhat safari feel that we loved. The interior dining has a camper/lodge feel to it, but in a hip way. After we checked into Cover, we were promptly served mimosas and they kept coming without us having to ask. 

We started off with the Buttermilk Biscuits. Perfect for two to spilt. Loved the flakiness to it. The butter was also perfectly sweetened. 

My entree was the Pork Belly Hash. The pork belly was simmered in a mildly spicy broth with brussel sprouts and potatoes. It was topped with feta cheese and a fried egg, garnished with cilantro and dill. Perfectly portioned and the fresh herbs are chunky enough to add unexpected pop of flavor. Plenty of broth to dip left over biscuit into, which I savored. 

Jacqueline ordered the Smoked Salmon dish. You can't tell from the picture, but it came with a potato pancake. It was wrapped in there. This was a unique dish, it was almost like a Lox Benedict.  

Cliff's Edge is a great location for those seeking more than a typical Silver Lake greasy spoon for Brunch. I look forward to trying them for Dinner as well. Just remember to come in tomorrow for Bottomless Mimosa Brunch via Cover, 4/26/15. 11 AM - 3 PM. 

RECIPE: Dad's Cioppino

First, I should admit that I don't exactly come from a family gifted in the ways of the culinary arts.

They did each have their strengths – grandpa could roast a chicken with the best of them; grandma spun peanut butter, honey and toast into magic; and mom knocked out some killer lunch box sandwiches with the pickles and tomatoes packed separately to keep the bread from getting soggy (genius) – but for the most part they didn't stray very far from the staples.

So when my friend Liz’s mom served up incredible Salvadoran feasts and my friend Andrea’s table was perpetually filled with Swiss delights there was definitely some dinner envy going on. This all went away one day a year though, December 25^th when dad made cioppino.

No one really knows where the tradition came from and honestly, the man really has no business being this good at it. He’s not Italian and his culinary skills fall almost exclusively into the grilling category, with some spill over into smoked meats. This did not deter him, little does. He set out to own this glorious seafood stew and year after year he does just that.

So I'm happy to share with you the dish that always outshined the presents under my tree, except for maybe the year I got a BMX bike and the movie “Rad.” That year it was a tie…   

DAD’S CHRISTMAS CIOPPINO

2 whole crabs, cracked and cleaned
2 pounds salmon, cut into 1-inch pieces

2 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined 

5 pounds mussels

2 pounds scallops

1 package brats or hot sausage, sliced

(3) 28 oz. cans crushed tomatoes

(2) 14 oz. cans chicken broth

1/4 cup dry white vermouth

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 hot pepper

4 ounces extra virgin olive oil

8 sprigs parsley, chopped

1/2 cup minced garlic

3 medium onions, diced 

1 small package baby carrots, sliced

1 tablespoon fresh Italian herbs

1 tablespoon fresh rosemary

1 tablespoon fresh thyme

1 tablespoon fresh marjoram

4 broken bay leaves

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon salt

Scrub mussels, let soak in cold water until ready to use.

Sauté onions, parsley, carrots, hot pepper and garlic in olive oil over low heat in a 12-quart pot.

Add salmon and tomatoes to the pot. Cover and cook for approximately 20 minutes. 

Add vermouth, chicken broth and bay leaves. Bring the mixture to a low boil, stirring often. 

Add brats, salt, pepper and remaining spices. Cook for approximately 5 minutes. 

Add mussels, scallops, crab, and shrimp. Stir often and cook approximately 10 more minutes until the seafood is done. 


Add the butter and enjoy with crusty sourdough bread.

The recipe is based on one from Corti Brothers but he makes changes to it every year so feel free to improvise! 


If you have a favorite family recipe you'd like to share please reach out to us on Facebook: facebook.com/girlsonfood We'd love to hear about the best (and worst) dishes your family undoubtedly served up with love!

Brentwood Bliss: M Cafe

Hi Foodies, 

It's been far too long. A lot of the Girls on Food have been super busy lately but I wanted to share an article I wrote that got published in Brentwood Focus magazine. I had the pleasure of interviewing Filmmaker Andy Crete over a fantastic (and healthy) meal at M Cafe. I figured I'd share the meal with you. You can read the full interview, in the February 2014 issue, here: http://brentwoodfocus.com/online-issue/

M Cafe 

11678 San Vicente Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90049

http://mcafedechaya.com 

This was fantastic. The Bi-Bim Bop Whole-Grain Bowl. So many great flavors topped with a buttery salmon. The spicy miso sauce was yum-o. 

My buddy Andy ordered the Baja M Chopped. Luckily I was able to get a bite. Everything on their menu is a part of the Macrobiotic diet, so even if it looked unhealthy, it was still good for you. That's how I rationalize things...

Girls on Film: Buzzfeed's PB&J Challenge

Here's a fun video I got to do for Buzzfeed Food! I had so much fun with this crew and look forward to hopefully shooting with them again!

  How to Hack Your PB&J

Here's a BTS look at the shoot:

Living in Venice, I rarely get to see the Hollywood sign. So that was encouraging to see before the shoot. 

My producer and friend Ely Wilbur setting up the shot. We got the shoot at a rad Hollywood Hills house that Buzzfeed operates out of. 

Ely setting up the shot on the "Banana Hammock". 

My pal Chris Miller noshing on the Eggo PB&J.

The Grilled PB&J, so gooey, so yummy...

Justin Dailey getting himself prepared for the next concoction as Ely films. 

Seems weird, right? It was actually the most popular with us. The peanut butter cuts the saltiness from the chips and pickles but it remains an oddball mix of flavors.

Thanks for stopping by Foodies!

Sunday Girl: La Petite Creperie and Mar Vista Farmer's Market

What's up Foodies? 

The transition from Seattle to LA was a tough one on me and I wasn't able to get out and enjoy tasty morsels as much as I wanted to. Now that I'm a bit more settled (I've got a great day-job and a gym to burn those problematic calories) I can venture out and have some new experiences. 

I'm sure some of the readers will disagree with me, but I feel like LA is a bit of an over-rated city when it comes to food. First off, LA is so huge and the traffic gets so crazy, it's tough to venture out far. I currently live in Venice and the thought of driving to Silverlake to try some of it's top places seems dreadful. Although I love living on the Westside, it's easy to get bored with the food here. Santa Monica is too touristy, Venice's Abbot Kinney is out of my price range (there are some good reasonably priced eats on Main Street which I'll write about soon) and although I adore cocktails from the Ritz-Carlton in Marina Del Rey, most restaurants have been nothing to write about. 

Mar Vista is a small residential and commercial neighborhood West of Venice. It reminds of Downtown Roseville, which is where I grew up, outside of Sacramento. There are cute shops, cafes and restaurants within walking distance of each other on Venice Blvd. Mar Vista seems to have a family/community type feel to it after researching it online. I found a cute Creperie there and I'm becoming a bit of a regular there now. What girl isn't a sucker for a Provencal-style cafe with a hint of shabby-chic whimsy to it? 

La Petite Crêperie

lpcmarvista.com

3809 Grand View Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90066

Poulet à La Crème 

I was in the mood for a savory crepe and the Poulet à La Crème was just what I needed. This is a different presentation than what I was expecting (ingredients folded into crepe) and I didn't know it was going to be a Wheat Crepe mix used. Luckily, looks are deceiving because this was just as good as eating a stuffed crepe and the wheat adds a grainy texture that I now prefer over the standard crepe mix. The Crème Fraîche sauce is very rich and seemed to have a great white wine taste to it. The Chicken is also perfectly cooked and soaks up the Crème Fraîche sauce. There's also enough sauce to mix into the mixed green salad it comes with.  

A la Banane

The second time I went it I asked the server what the most popular item outside of crepes was and he recommended the A la Banane; which is French Toast smothered in a Brown Sugar and dark Rum sauce, topped with Bananas, Hazelnuts and imported Marscarpone cheese. I don't have much of a sweet tooth, but how could I resist this? It's like a breakfast version of Banana's Foster. This was very delicious but I think it covered a year worth of sweets for me. Their menu is online and I'm looking forward to trying the Pommes and the Saumon Fumé. 

 Blue Flowers - From Mar Vista Farmer's Market

Mar Vista Farmer's Market 

Sundays, 9 AM - 2 PM

Grand View Ave and Venice Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90006

One thing I really miss about Sacramento and Seattle are their great Farmer's Markets. It's a Sunday morning tradition for me; eat a good meal, get fresh local produce and if I have a few extra bucks, some pretty flowers. It's also fun to build bonds with the vendors so they hook you up with the best items. In LA, most people flock to the Santa Monica Farmer's Market on Wednesday mornings. I find it incredibly over-whelming. There are way too many people and vendors crammed together- I get claustrophobic! I also heard a story about a person driving through the market and injuring people. I know it's an irrational fear, but...

I recently discovered the Mar Vista Farmer's Market (http://www.marvistafarmersmarket.org/) and it has become my Sunday morning ritual. The Farmers are very friendly and they offer plenty of samples. In addition to farmers, there are plenty of activities to keep kids busy and cute kitchen accessories, there are also a lot of food vendors with plenty of hot goodies you can munch on while shopping. A few of my favorite things are below. 

Ring Baked Tofu Donuts

I'm going bonkers trying to find any contact info for this business! Such a shame because the Red Velvet was so delicious. Ever since I started working behind the camera donuts have been my enemy. They're usually greasy and gross. These baked Tofu Donuts where light, lightly sweet and don't weigh you down after consumption. If anyone out there has contact info for this business let me know. I want to try the Green Tea donut. 

Dairy Goddess Farmstead Cheese

http://dairygoddess.com

I tried them all and not only are all of them fantastic spreads THEY'RE ALL UNDER 30 CALORIES PER SERVING!!!!!!!

I never thought I'd see the day I'd post low-calorie food but I guess there's a first time for everything. The kind gentleman working the stand started me on the Naked spread, so I could taste the base, a savory Fromage Blanc. Then he had me try all of them. I walked with the "The Valley", which is a spread with Peaches, Almonds and sweetened with Honey. This is a great addition to Non-Fat Greek Yogurt and to dip your Strawberries in. I also walked with the "Ol West" spread with bits of real bacon and ranch flavoring. I have used this spread to dip Bellpeppers in but it's also perfect (and guilt-free) on-top of a baked potato.  

MASA - Artisan Gourmet Tamales

http://www.masatamales.com

I picked up a bag of MASA's Goat Cheese Corn and Jalapeno Tamales but was a little concerned they'd dry out when I tried to heat them up. What I did was put the tamales (keep corn wrapper on) on a plate and put about 2 tablespoons of water on the plate. Also, lightly dampen a paper towel and wrap it around the plate. This way it steams in the microwave and keeps all the flavors succulent inside. The Goat Cheese was a bit of a risk since I am so used to a traditional Mole or Verde mixture inside. These were great tamales though and can't wait to pick up the Spicy Chickpeas and Guatemalan Rice Tamales next trip. 

Drinking My Way Through Portland...

I finally made it to Portland! Once my bucket list for this culinary mecca became too ridiculous to ignore I called my sister and the next thing I know we're sipping champagne waiting for our flight. Armed with an extensive list of places to enjoy thirty exquisite meals should we please on our three-day jaunt, we were prepared to eat well. (And, we did.) It was the cocktails that took us by surprise. 

Of course they were great, but it was the sheer abundance that blew us away. There is a vegan, gluten-free bakery with a cocktail menu. Let that sink in for a second because it took us a beat to fully grasp it when we wandered in... A VEGAN, GLUTEN-FREE BAKERY WITH A BAR. Half the restaurants in Sacramento are only licensed for beer and wine! Impressive Portland.   

Below is a collection of my favorite sips in a city I can't wait to taste again... 

The Last Word
Aviation Gin, Maraschino Liqueur, Yellow Chartreuse, Lime Juice
@ Brasserie Montmartre

This is a prohibition-era cocktail, usually made with green chartreuse, and it's fantastic. It's not for everyone though. (My sister hated it.) If you're not a gin fan, this is not the drink that will win you over. It is herbaceous. And strong. But still a little sweet and very interesting. Bronx Cocktail, you've now been demoted to number two on my list. 

New Horizons
Bulleit, Canton Ginger, Cucumber, Fresh Citrus,  Ginger
@ Departure

In general, I'm not big on bourbon. I tend to like it better in dessert than a glass but cucumber and ginger can be pretty convincing. This one is incredibly refreshing and the best part: it's served on a rooftop patio with an incredible view of the city, alongside killer happy hour bites. 

Bottle Rocket
Gin, Lime, Apricot Liqueur, Soda, Lime Peel
@ Clyde Common

Attention fellow Gin & Tonic fans: Immediately stock your home bar with apricot liqueur and make the switch. That is all. 

Bitter Spring
Aperol, Lillet, Grapefruit, Celery Bitters, Sparkling Wine, Orange Twist
@ Olympic Provisions

If you love mimosas, stay away from this. It will ruin them for you. Aperol, Lillet, Grapefruit Juice? Yes. Celery Bitters?? YES! 

I can't move on without mentioning two things: 1) Brunch here was simple and legendary. I had the sudden urge to move here with every bite. 2) The other drink in the picture is a tequila cocktail, that my sister ordered for breakfast. I was proud. 

Tom Kat Sour
Hayman's Old Tom Gin, Aperol, KASK Ginger Syrup, Lemon, Mint
@ KASK

This is a terrible photo but I had to include it in the list because it was taken at the best bar in Portland! Granted, I've only tried three days worth of bars there but I'm near positive this would be confirmed by locals. 

Water Lily 
Aviation Gin, Cointreau, Rothman and Winter Creme de Violette, Lemon Juice
@ Petunia's Pies & Pastries

And now we've arrived at the infamous vegan, gluten-free establishment with a full line of dessert cocktails... This one is definitely dessert, very sweet. Normally this wouldn't be my cup of tea but just look how cute it is! The bakery is adorable too, don't let the vegan part deter you. 

Passionfruit Berliner Weisse in Coconut Water Sorbet
a ribbon of marmalade made from passionfruit and
Breakside Brewery's "Passionfruit Berliner Weisse," in a coconut water sorbet
@ Salt & Straw

Since this blog is technically about food I feel the need to include at least one thing you can nosh on. Of course, in true Portland style even the ice cream celebrates the hard stuff...

This was one of SIX beer-infused flavors! We stood in a line that ran down the block, sweating, doubting it would be as good as everyone says but, like you may have guessed, we were wrong. And in case you're thinking I got lucky with the one flavor I ordered, I should admit that I sampled eight others in line. (Don't judge.) They were all amazing and obviously this place knows how to churn out a profit by the look of the lines but the most impressive thing to me was to see a love for beer so strong on both sides of the counter that over a third of the menu was dedicated to it. You've got your priorities in line Portland. I like your style.